Clearspan - tension fabric buildings

[TruckinFool]

Anyone have experience building or own one of these fabric buildings? I'm in discussions with Clearspan regarding the purchase of a 75' truss design and I have a few questions for those more familiar with them.

For example they want to charge me $2500 for stamped engineered drawings for the building and ANOTHER $2k for stamped drawings for the helical anchor system. I'm completely unfamiliar with erecting buildings but shouldn't foundation drawings be included with the building drawings? If not, is $4500 total reasonable for a 5600-9000sqft building?

 

[jaotguy]

some places require an engineering firm to deliver the drawings and sign off on projected loads ... they'd be just a tad pricey if another firm has to, for some one else's work ...

so the company will supply them for you for a fee , if you need them ....

and still probably cheaper than finding another firm to do it

 

[bcp]

Are they creating the drawings, or copying them?

Bruce

 

[TruckinFool]

I believe its their truss design but having a Colorado state engineer review and stamp them so I can get necessary permits. Jeffco considers these buildings as permanent.

So I take it $4500 doesn't sound over the top?

 

[mfreund]

If they wanted me to buy their building I would want all the things included in the price. $4500 seems high to me

 

[Streetcar]

I am an engineer in ohio
The building and the foundation need to be reviewed and stamped by a professional engineer for use in your area and soil conditions.
The cost of $4500 for both of these tasks seems reasonable.

 

[EddieWalker]

Before buying I would get some references and visit people who have fabric buildings. I know that there are some out there that seem pretty good, but I also know first hand some people who paid quite a bit of money for them and had nothing but problems. One was a guy who was trying to be a dealer, but the display building kept ripping and fraying. He didn't last a year and now there is just a concrete slab where it used to stand.

Eddie

 

[BeezFun]

My neighbor put up a fabric building about 5 years ago, we put one up last year. We both have agricultural exemptions, and in our state and county that makes the building exempt from the permitting process. So we had no costs associated with engineering drawings or permitting. I'm not surprised they make that a separate charge, many rural areas probably are like ours and don't require those costs.

We both priced clearspan and they were a good bit higher than the companies we ended up choosing. There are a number of reputable companies, you might get quotes from some other companies that cover your area to see if the total price you're being charged is competitive.